Letters of Commendation are granted to members of Starfleet who commit acts of meritorious service that do not warrant the honor of a medal. Such commendations are commonly awarded for the following reasons:

Exemplary Service

Outstanding Performance of Duties Under Extreme Conditions

Outstanding Performance of Duties

Bravery

Valor

Courage

Excellence in Administrative Duties

Victory Against Overwhelming Odds

Lifesaving

Honorable Acts

Charitable Acts

Creative Thinking

Commendations are awarded by one of three distinct levels of authority in the Federation Starfleet. They are as follows in descending order of greatest to least prestigious: